NFL
By Steve Rogers
The Minnesota Vikings opened the season 0-3. Then October came and the Vikings became the best team in the NFL that month going 4-1. During that stretch, the Vikings lost All-Pro wide receiver Justin Jefferson due to a hamstring injury. The Vikings have responded by winning three straight games in his absence. However, last week the Vikings were dealt another even more devastating blow as quarterback Kirk Cousins suffered a torn Achilles in his right leg and is done for the rest of the year. Many NFL experts have suggested that the Vikings as a team were also done for the year. Huh? Apparently, nobody told the Vikings front office directly. The Vikings must have missed the memo or not opened the email. Because on the trade deadline, the Vikings traded for Arizona Cardinals quarterback Joshua Dobbs giving up a sixth-round pick in exchange.
Interestingly the Vikings made one other move after that. The Vikings recently signed free-agent offensive lineman Dalton Risner. Risner has learned the offense and became a starter. Making Ezra Cleveland expendable. So, they traded Cleveland to the Jacksonville Jaguars ironically for a sixth-round pick. The Vikings blocked out the noise stayed the course AND kept their core playmakers in-house. Also, the Vikings silenced the other media noise that Cousins had thrown his last pass in purple when they said they are open to having Cousins back in ’24!
Week 9
The Vikings have turned their attention to their next opponent the Atlanta Falcons. These two teams have faced different roads to wind up on somewhat of the same path. Both teams are currently 4-4 and fighting to stay above it and in playoff contention/conversations. The Falcons can’t seem to find consistency week in and week out. They will win one game and lose the next. The Vikings couldn’t figure out how to win the first three weeks and now seemingly can’t lose. The Falcons started the year with Desmond Ridder as their starter. However, after eight games and a QBR of only 39.4 along with only six touchdowns and six interceptions, and some lingering health questions after being in the concussion protocols this week. Head coach Arthur Smith has decided to err on the side of caution with Ridder and is sitting him this week. That means his backup Taylor Heinicke will get the start.
In a case of six degrees of separation, Heinicke spent his first two years in the NFL putting up preseason numbers for the Vikings. Heinicke became one of the better backup QBs in the league and almost became the Washington Commanders’ starter a few years ago. Heinicke reminds me of Ryan Fitzpatrick. He’s great in spots and even over small periods but in extended rolls the magic tends to wear off.
The Falcons are facing their own serious injury concerns entering this Sunday. They lost their star defensive Grady Jarrett to a season-ending knee injury. Jarrett is not only their defensive captain but maybe the locker rooms as well. To further complicate matters fellow defensive end LaCale London has also been put on season-ending IR with a knee injury. The Falcons will be without their top wide-receiving option Drake London due to a groin injury. In total, the Falcons have 12 players out or on IR. Depth is going to play a role in this game.
The Vikings have been playing some of the best defense in the league during this winning streak. It only makes sense for the Vikings to look to continue to ride the defense as long as it can keep teams under 20 points. After the latest massive contract at the defensive end position by Chicago Bears’ newly acquired Montez Sweat. Has to further motivate Vikings star edge rusher Danielle Hunter who leads the league in sacks and tackles for loss. In fact, Hunter was named the NFC’s Defensive Player of the Month for October. The Vikings are certainly going to need him to keep playing like he has been to help keep this defense firing on all cylinders. Brian Flores is the mastermind behind all the new defensive looks as the defensive coordinator. Veteran safety Harrison Smith is flying all over the field making plays looking like the “Hittman” of three or four years ago.
Rookie Jordan Addison is well on his way to becoming “Robin” to Jefferson’s “Batman”. As Addison is putting together a solid case for being named Offensive Rookie of the Year. Rookie quarterback Jaren Hall is set to start his first NFL game. Hall will also have tight end T.J. Hockenson as a dependable target to look for. Hall might be the Vikings’ leading rusher in this game.
Game Prediction
This game will be defined by defense or the lack thereof. The Vikings have one of the best overall units playing lights out. The Vikings’ defense will keep the game low-scoring. Which will take the pressure off rookie Hall. Addison will continue to make his presence felt and his star on the rise. Hockenson will be a security blanket for Hall. The Vikings are learning how to play not just keep away but take it away and keep it too. The Vikings will upset Vegas and the bettors by pulling off another upset giving 3.5 points. The Vikings will stay as hot as any team in the NFL. The Vikings will win back-to-back road games down in the dirty dirty. The final score will be 27-16. Skol!
